Sugarcane Harvester Deflector Body for Billet Loss Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional sugarcane harvesters are inefficient and costly, resulting in significant losses of sugarcane billets and poor trash extraction due to their design, which fails to effectively separate cane billets from leaves and debris.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a deflector body with a deflection surface within the cleaning chamber of the sugarcane harvester, combined with a guide vane and a hub cover, directs the sugarcane billets and debris along a deflected path to physically impact the hub cover, enhancing separation and distribution within the chamber, and guide vanes deflect material away from the outlet to improve cleaning efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional extractor designs are used with axial-flow fans, then cleaning function is provided, but efficiency is low and cost is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fan component from the traditional axial-flow fan system and replaces it with a centrifugal fan, removing the inefficient cleaning mechanism while retaining the essential air flow generation function. This extraction allows for a more energy-efficient alternative that maintains cleaning effectiveness without the high power consumption of traditional designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the cleaning system by switching from axial-flow to centrifugal fan technology. This parameter change in fan type and air flow characteristics results in improved energy efficiency while maintaining or enhancing cleaning performance, directly addressing the contradiction between productivity and energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If traditional extractor designs are used, then cleaning function is provided, but significant losses of sugarcane billets occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesugarcane billet lossVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a deflector body that segments and directs the air flow into specific zones within the cleaning chamber. This segmentation creates controlled flow patterns that separate trash removal paths from billet discharge paths, preventing billet loss while maintaining effective trash extraction. The deflector body divides the cleaning chamber functionality to address both contradictions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deflector body acts as an intermediary element between the centrifugal fan and the cleaning chamber outlet. It mediates the air flow to achieve proper separation of trash and billets, ensuring that cleaning effectiveness is maintained while billet losses are minimized. This intermediary component is crucial for resolving the contradiction between substance loss and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If axial-flow fans are used for cleaning, then air flow through extractor is generated, but design is expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfan power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a centrifugal fan design that is simpler and less expensive to manufacture compared to traditional axial-flow fans. The centrifugal fan with its straightforward impeller and housing design reduces manufacturing complexity and cost, while the deflector body uses simple geometric shapes that are easy to fabricate. This approach to using simpler, more economical components directly addresses the cost issue while improving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration results in cleaner outlet flows with lower losses of sugarcane billets, reduced power consumption, and more effective trash extraction, leading to improved sugarcane harvesting efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

the deflection of the portion of the feed stream by the deflector body may cause the portion of the feed stream to physically impact the hub cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical impact: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

As part of the feed stream is carried by an air flow within the cleaning chamber toward an outlet of the cleaning chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

one of the rotating fan blades, in a single rotation, passes a higher end of the guide surface before passing a lower end of the guide surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS9456547B2Sugarcane cleaning deflector arrangements

Publication Date: 2016.10.04 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A cleaning arrangement for a sugarcane harvester with a cleaning chamber includes a deflector body with at least one deflection surface at least partly facing a feed stream of cane billets and other material from a feed train of a sugarcane harvester. The deflector body may be fixed to the sugarcane harvester such that the at least one deflection surface extends at least partly within the cleaning chamber. As the feed train moves the feed stream to the cleaning chamber, the at least one deflection surface may deflect at least a portion of the feed stream within the cleaning chamber.